There shall be levied a renewal tax for the benefit of The City of Springfield, Ohio, at a rate of three (3) mills for each one dollar ($1.00) of valuation, which amounts to thirty cents ($0.30) for each one hundred dollars ($100.00) of valuation, which shall be for the specific purpose of hiring, training, maintaining, and supporting at least twenty-four (24) sworn, full-time police officers within the Springfield Police Division.
The levy shall remain in effect for a period of six (6) years upon the approval by a majority of the electors voting thereon, and shall be renewable in six-year increments by a majority of the electors voting thereon, and shall commence in tax year 1995, first half.
For the duration of this assessment, the Springfield Police Division shall consist of no fewer than one hundred and twenty-four (124) full-time sworn police officers, and a minimum of six (6) such officers shall be assigned to the Narcotics Unit. Only a person who is pursuing, or has successfully completed, an appropriate police officer training program approved and established pursuant to State law, shall hold one of the one hundred and twenty-four (124) police officer positions stated herein.
All monies generated by this assessment and received by The City of Springfield shall be placed in a separate interest-bearing fund, and any and all interest accrued remain in such fund. Any monies withdrawn from this fund by The City of Springfield shall be used only for the specific purposes stated herein, namely: hiring, training, maintaining, and supporting twenty-four (24) sworn, full-time police officers within the Springfield Police Division. No moneys withdrawn from this fund by The City of Springfield may be used to pay for the salaries or benefits of the first one-hundred (100) sworn, full-time police officers within the Springfield Police Division, unless such position has become necessary to support officers hired pursuant to the May, 1990, police levy, or this levy.
The foregoing provision shall become effective and a part of the Charter of The City of Springfield, Ohio, on the thirtieth (30th) day after approval by a majority of the electors voting thereon.
(Enacted 5-2-95, Ord. No. 95-70, Yeas 4,605; Nays 1,708.)